Method and apparatus for driving pile shells



May 26, 1953 E. A. SMITH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILE SHELLSFiled Feb. 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EDWARDA.5M/TH.

ATTORNEY):

May 26, 1953 E. A. SMITH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING FILE SHELLSFiled Feb. 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [om ,4 B0 A .JM/ TH. BY Mi M T May 26, 1953 E. A. SMITH 2,639,589

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING RILE SHELLS Filed Feb. 28, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. E0 WARD A SM/ TH;

ATTORNEYS.

y 26, 1953 E. A. SMITH 2,639,589

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILE SHELLS Filed Feb. 28, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 4 /27 !!F l 4 H1 5 i i 11 l 75 75 l i 1; '12 i 5 1} 72 4-*-|i| i 71 "I1 I a1 1 r i 3r i l 1w i i 82 I l fl.

55 I I N V EN TOR.

Eon/A RD A.5M/TH.

ATTORNEYS.

May 26, 1953 E. A. SMITH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILE SHELLSFiled Feb. 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 EM 0. A

D l M WW E Patented May 26, 1953 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILESHELLS Edward A. Smith, Chatham, N. J., assignor to Raymond ConcretePile Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationFebruary 28, 1952, Serial No. 273,920

13 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and appara tus for driving pile shellsand is especially adapted for use in driving such shells by the use of adriving core therein, in those cases where the shell and core are solong that it is impractical to provide a pile driving rig which willextend high enough to provide the necessary headroom for assembling (orshelling up, as it is termed) the core within the shell preparatory todriving the latter.

The invention is well adapted for use in the driving of such long pileshells which are made integral or are made of sections welded togetherto form a watertight unitary shell before it is driven. Also theinvention is adapted for driving such long unitary shells of theso-called straightsided type as distinguished from the well-known steptapered types made of sections which may be screwed togethersuccessively during the driving operation and which thus do not requiresuch extensive headroom in shelling up. With recent developments it hasbecome possible readily to install such long straight-sided shells byplacing them in pro-excavated holes formed by wet drilling methods sothat despite the length of the shell and even though it is of relativelythin metal, it may be easily driven by a core therein into finalposition without tearing apart the shell walls. Yet, so far as is known,no entirely satisfactory or economical means or methods have theretoforebeen proposed for shelling up such unusually long unitary shells withoutproviding a pile driving rig of unreasonable height to afford thenecessary headroom to permit the shell to be suspended in an uprightposition and with a core above and in alignment therewith in position tobe telescoped into the shell. The height of typical pile driving hammersis about 15 feet, and if for example according to frequent practiceheretofore, the shell and the core are each only about 40 feet long,then the minimum headroom required amounts to a total of about 95 feet.This is a reasonable and practical figure with readily available piledrivers. If on the other hand it is desired to drive a unitary shell 80feet long for example, requiring a driving core also about 80 feet long,then the total required headroom will amount to about 1'75 feet, whichis a quite impractical figure for ordinary commercial pile drivers. Evenif such long shells were made in two pieces to be assembled during thedriving operations, the required headroom would still be about 135 feetor more-also generally an impractical figure.

One attempt to solve this problem involves the expedient of firstdriving a pipe into the ground of a diameter large enough to receive theshell in upright position so that the core may then be dropped into theshell with a saving of a certain amount of headroom in the shelling upoperation. However, this method has a serious disadvantage where thepiles are to be driven at points spread out over a considerable area,because the pile driver, after driving each shell, has to be moved backto the pipe for the next shelling up operation and this involvesexcessive and expensive travelling time for the pile driver back andforth. Also it has in some cases been the practice to avoid the problemby using so-called composite piles where long piles are required. Suchcomposite piles consist of a pipe or H-beam forming the lower part, theupper part being formed of a shell which does not have to be oftroublesome length, but this results in considerable extra cost becauseof the greater cost per foot of such pipe or H-beam portions as comparedwith light corrugated shells.

According to the present invention, the problem is solved by aneconomical and easily operated method and apparatus which involves firstpositioning the pile driving core generally upright and largely belowthe ground level in a tube which need only be large enough to receivethe core alone and which thus may itself comprise one of the useful pileshells to be driven. This first shell may be driven in sections notrequiring excessive headroom, if desired. After the core is thuspositioned, a shell is suspended above and in alignment therewith. Thena core pulling means (one form of which is hereinafter referred to as amessenger plug) suspended from the pile driver is lowered through suchsuspended shell and connected to the core, the pulling means then beingraised to pull the core into shelled up position. Then the pile driverwith the suspended shell and core therein is moved to the desiredposition for driving the shell. After driving the shell, the core in thethus driven shell is in position to again be shelled up in like mannerwith the next shell to be driven, and thus the pile driver does not haveto travel back to or from the place of the initial shelling upoperation. Thereby a great saving of time and labor with the expensivepile driving equipment is made possible.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will appear from the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings illustrating by way of examplethe presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the manner in which a. shell to be used for thefirst shelling up operation may be driven in sections;

Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which. the next shell to be driven mabe suspended above the core which shown positioned in the initiallydriven sectional shell;

Fig. 4 illustrates the ianner in which a suspended core pulling means ormessenger plug may be lowered through the suspended shell and attachedto the core positioned in sectional shell in the ground;

Fig. 5 illustrates the assembled or shelled up" core, shell shell bootready to be driven by the pile driver hammer assembly;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view partly in section of a lower partof a hammer assembly,

sheave arrangement and frame therefor and the messenger plug assemblyoperated thereby;

Fig. 7 is an elevational. view taken at angles to the view of Fig. 6;

Figs. 3 and respecti ely are horizontal. sectional views takensubstantially along lines 8-3 and 9-$l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing in rated relation a hammerfollower, the ssenger plug and a core, as used in carrying out theinvention;

Fig. 10a is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of the axis ofthe sheaves which mounted in the messenger plug Fig. 11 is a verticalsectional view showing the details of a detachable boot construction.which may be used according to the invention to close the lower end ofthe elongate-cl pile shell;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view showing a construction which may beused for forming an unusually long pile of the so-called com" positetype, the lower end of which comprises a pipe attached to the lower endof a corrugated shell;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view showing in further detail a typical piledriving hammer assembly together with a sheave arran ement and frametherefor;

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the manner in which the invention may be usedfor driving steptapered pile shells, or shells the main part of whichmay be of an elongated unitary construction supplemented by step-taperedlower portions;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a joint construction and associated coreparts which may be used. in cases where it is desired to fOll'l'l theshell with a detachable screw connection at the middle, for example; and

Fig. 17 shows a modification oi the boot construction of Fig. ll.

Referring now in further detail to the parts shown at the upper portionsof l and '-l--'! inclusive, a pile driving hammer assembly is indicatedat 28 adapted to be slidably suspended at a variable height along theso-called leads or guideways of a pile driv r, the suspending meanscomprising a pulley and cable as at 2 i. A. so-called follower 22 isattached in a known way as by detachable sling means 23 to form thelower part of the hammer assembly. The co pulling means or messengerplug above referred to is shown in outline at in 1-5 inclusive and infurther detail by the perspeo tive view of Fig. 10, as well as in Fig.6. This iii messenger plug may comprise a generally cylindrical mainbody portion as shown, the upper end 26 of which is preferabl of squareor other poly ial cross-section, adapted to be received in a soc-setportion 2'! of like cross-section o the underside of the follower 22(Fig. d). Thus messenger plug, when its upper ad s this socket will beprevented from rotating, even though the equipment may be used with pileshells of a form as hereinafter described which have parts to be turnedor rotated to secure same together or to bring the same into properrelationship with the driving core. A pair of sheaves as at Z'ia, 2H)are mounted within the mid-portion of the messenger plug, these beingadapted to engage a four-part cor-e lifting cable 28. As indicated inFigs. 10 and 18a, suitably shaped cavities 29 are rovided in the body ofthe messenger plug 725, such that when the plug is in its uppermostposition in engagement with the follower socket, the cable portions 27.will be spaced substantially below these sheaves. The sheave arrangementso in further explained below, that the cable portions 28 will be spacedfrom the sheaves file, 23b at the moments of the driving impacts ofhammer, so that the cable will not have to be overhauled to anysubstantial degree (if at all) by reason of the hammer blows. It beenfound that where a cable is irectly attached to a core which is beingdriven, the force of the blow is materially reduced if it has tooverhaul the plurality of parts of such cables. As further shown inFigs. 10 and lilo, the cavities at 29 are so shaped, how ever, that attimes when the messenger plug is being suspended by the cables and isbeing to raise the driving core, then the cables will be required tocome up into positions to properly engage the grooves in t iese withoutescaping to the sides thereof.

As further shown in Fig. 10, the lower end of the messenger plug may beformed with downwardly protruding portion 353 of reduced diameter,adapted to be received within axially extending aperture 3i at the upperend of a shell driving core 32. The portion 3'.) may be detachablysecured in the aperture til as by a cross pin 33 passing throughapertures 35 the walls of the core and through a slot the lower end ofthe messenger plug. The pin may be detachably retained in place when themessenger plug is connected to the core by any suitable known means. Asindicated at bottom of Fig. 10, the lower end of the core 32 providedwith a plurality of lug formations, for example four, at spacedpositions and adapted to be brought into engagement with. lugs 35a onthe shells as hereinafter explained.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive, when the messenger plug is inits uppermost position, the parts of the cable 28 extend down and aroundtwo pairs of sheaves at .ila, 37b and 38a, 3%, the cable portionsextending straight and horizontally between these pairs of sheaves.However, when the messenger plug is at lower positions (for example asshown in Fig. 4:) these cable portions will embrace the sheaves 27a, 27band serve to support the plug and the core if attached thereto. Andwhen, as shown in Fig. 4. the messenger plug is lowered to a positionspaced substantially below the hammer, the cable portions will extenddown over the sheaves as at Ella, 35m and thence inwardly down over twopairs of sheaves Eda, 40b, lla, Mb, these latter sheaves serving todirect the cable portions vertically down into the suspended shell asindicated at S in a manner such that the upper end edges of the shellwill not contact the cable under pressure and cause abrasion thereof.

As best shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 9, the sheaves (other than thosecarried by the messenger plug) are all mounted on a sheave frame 43. Asindicated in Fig. 9, this frame is vertically slidable on the leads orguideway members 44, 45, forming a part of the pile driver assembly.That is, a pair of hammer extension members 46, 41, havingcross-sections like I-beams, are slidable along the inner faces of theleads and these members have bracket portions as at 48, 49 extendingoutwardly therefrom (Fig. 6) to cross pieces as at 50, 5!, between whichsuitable vertical plate members as at 52 are welded or otherwisesecured, in which plate members the shafts from the sheaves are mounted.The cross members 50, 5! are preferably detachably secured as by boltsas shown to the bracket members 48, 49 so that these cross pieces andthe parts of the assembly carried thereby may readily be removed topermit the hammer assembly to be slid down along the leads and thus offfrom the pile driver in cases where the construction is such that thehammer cannot be readily removed otherwise.

The sheave frame 43 as carried by the hammer extension members 46, 41,is slidably supported along the pile driver leads with the hammerassembly in the following way, as best illustrated in the example ofFig. 13 where one of the hammer extension members 41 is shown (partlybroken away) as extending up from the sheave frame along to the top ofthe hammer assembly. The other hammer extension member 46 similarlyextends up to the top of the hammer assembly and the two extensions arethere interconnected in any suitable way, the connection resting upon aspring 53 supported on the upper end of the hammer assembly. Asindicated in Fig. 8, the hammer extension members 46, 47 may beinterconnected and retained in proper position midway of their length bysuitable yolre means 54. The hammer assembly on striking succeedingimpacts during its operation, is, of course, lowered in the usual way bythe cable and sheave means 2| suitably controlled by the pile driveroperator. Hence the sheave frame 43 as carried by the hammer extensions46, 41 (and resiliently supported on the spring 53 by the hammerassembly) will also be lowered stepby-step as the pile driving operationproceeds. At the same time the operator will control the cable 28 in away similar to the usual control of the hammer supporting cable so thatthe sheave frame may be lowered with the hammer assembly withouthindrance from the cable 28.

When one of the elongated pile shells is in position ready for driving,a suitable boot means 55 as shown in Fig. 11 is first preferably appliedto close off the lower end of the shell, thus rendering the whole shellwatertight. This boot may comprise a rigid circular plate having a peripheral flange 55 welded thereto and having threaded engagement with aplow ring 56 of conventional form, the latter in turn being welded atand within the lower end of the shell. An alternative form of bootconstruction is shown at 5'! in Fig. 17 and with this form theperipheral flange is welded to a short section 58 of the helicallycorrugated tubular shell material, this short section being adapted tobe screwed onto the lower end of the shell S as indicated.

The operation of the invention in so far as above disclosed will now bedescribed more particularly with reference to Figs. 1-5. To startoperations, a hole is made in the ground or preferably a tube or shellis first installed upright in the ground, having sufficient depth toreceive the greater part of the driving core to be used. Convenientlysuch tube or shell may comprise a plurality of corrugated tubular pileshell sections of conventional type driven and attached to one anotherin succession in any suitable way. A first short shell section A. may bedriven into the ground by the core 32 when placed therein. Thereby thecore will be driven down to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon themessenger plug 25 is disconnected therefrom and the plug raised to aheight sufficient to permit a second shell section A to be suspendedabove the core 32 as by a manila rope, cable or other suitable slingmeans 60 operated. by the hoisting means of the pile driver rig. SectionA is then lowered by sling 60 down about the core 32 to the positionshown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and there coupled to the shell sectionA. Thereupon the messenger plug and hammer assembly are lowered enoughto permit the core 32 to be used to drive the shell sections A and Adown to a suitable depth. It will be readily apparent that the messengerplug can be raised and lowered for these various operations by pullingup or paying out the cable 28 under the control of the pile driveroperator and the hoisting equipment available on the pile driver rig.Additional shell sections are successively driven in place in a similarway until the driven shell assembly is of sufiicient depth to receivethe greater part of the whole length of the driving core as indicated inFig. 3.

With the sheave and messenger plug assemblies now in raised position asshown in Fig. 3, the sling means 68 is now used to suspend one of theunitary long shells S in aligned position above the core 32, the lowerend of the shell S being spaced far enough above the upper end of thecore to permit the messenger plug, when it is lowered, to be connectedto the core. The messenger plug 25 is now lowered and connected by thepin 33 to the core 32. Then the plug and attached core are raised tobring the core into shelled-up position. Boot means such as shown inFigs. 11 or 17 are now applied to the lower end of the shell. The shellmay now be rotated to the extent necessary to bring the above-mentionedlugs 35a on the lower end of the core into superposed relation tocomplementary lugs as at 35' formed on the inside of the plow ring 56(or on the inside of the boot member in the case of Fig. 1'7) wherebythe hammer impacts to be imparted to the core will in turn be impartedthrough the lugs and thus in eifect pull the shell down into the earthduring the driving operation.

After the core is shelled-up in suspended position on the pile driver asabove described, the driving rig is ready to be moved to the locationwhere the shell is to be driven. At that location the shell with theboot thereon and the core therein are lowered until the boot rests onthe ground as indicated in Fig. 5, whereupon the core will push themessenger plug 25 up into seated position in the socket of the follower22 and the driving operation is now proceeded with. When the shell S hasbeen driven down to the desired depth, the core will, of course, becontained in the shell largely below the ground level. The messengerplug may now be disconnected from the core and raised to the sameposition as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon another shell may be brought intosuspended position and operations proceeded with in the same general wayas above referred to. Thus it is unnecessary to move the pile driverback to and from the location where the initial shelling up operationoccurred.

Of course in some locations the shells may be driven into earthsubmerged beneath a body of water in the same manner as above described,although in that case, of course, the surface of the water will be theequivalent of the ground level.

It will be apparent that certain of the features of the method involvedaccording to this invention might be carried out by core pulling means,without the particular messenger plug arrangement above described. Forexample, instead of such plug, a cable might be dropped through thesuspended. shells and attached to the core to pull the core up intoshelled-up position. In such a case the core could be hung from the baseof the hammer by means of a sling or the like, but these operationswould involve considerable loss of time, since the cable means or slingwould have to be connected and disconnected for each shelling upoperation and h nce the above-described messenger plug and sheavearrangement is ordinarily preferred.

In Fig. 6 it will be noted that the surfaces of the sheaves as at b, Mbare shown with shallow peripheral grooves so as to be able to hold thecable as far in as possible to avoid the difficulty that would be causedby the flanges of the sheave rubbing against the core or messenger plug.Any such diinculties may generally be avoided if the core and plug areof appropriate diameters, but to'avoid in some cases the use of anexcessively small plug with consequent small sheaves therein, one mayuse a pivotal mounting for the lower sheaves on the sheave frame in themanner indicated at the lower part of Fig. 13. Here sheaves such asindicated at 65 are mounted on short pivoted links as at 65 arranged sothat the links bear against stop means as at 6? when the plug and cable23 are under tension, but when the plug is in its uppermost position,the sheaves will be withdrawn from contact with the plug by springs asat 58.

Under certain circumstances and for some 10- cations, it may bepreferable to drive pile shells having a tapered point or lower end, ofone form or another, instead of the completely straightsided piles abovereferred to. The manner in which this may be accomplished by using apile having a step-tapered lower portion is shown in Fi s 14 and 15. Thefirst shell to be driven may be shelled up with its core in any desiredspecial way, as explained above in reference to Fig. l, and then theshell and core may be driven to the position shown in the lower part ofFig. 14. Then the messenger plug 25 is disconnected from the core andthe hammer and plug are raised to the position shown in the upper partof 14.. A long, unitary, straight-sided shell is then suspended as bysling as shown in the middle part of Fig. 14, the messenger plug beingthen lowered and connected again to the core, whereupon the plug iselevated to raise the core into shelled-up position. The driving rig isthen swung to one side and a step-tapered shell ST (as shown in thelower part of Fig. 15) is dropped into the previously driven initialshell.

The rig is then swung back, and, by hoisting means thereon, thestep-tapered shell is raised and connected as by a screw joint means tothe lower end of shell S. With the connected shell parts then raised.entirely above ground, the driving rig may he moved to the locationwhere the shell assembly is to be driven, and the driving operations mayproceed in a manner readily understood from the above descriptions ofFigs. 1-5 and Fig. 14.

In some cases it may be preferred to use an elongated shell having aseparable joint at the mid-portion as shown in Fig. 16. Here the uppershell portion it has a plow ring H at its lower end, with lugs as at 12therein for engagement with lugs as at 13 formed on a core member 'M Theplow ring may have threaded engageaent with a stop ring '55 which haswelded to its lower end a short section of helically corrugated tubularsheet metal '55 adapted to be screwed into the upper end of a lowershell portion ll. If desired the lugs 12, I3 may be omitted and then thedriving impacts will be imparted from the portion 78 on the core to theshoulder provided by the stop ring 75. With some soil conditions it maybe desirable to form shell with several joints with plow rings as thearrangement of Fig. 16.

In some cases the lower portion of the pile may in the form of a pipe asat 36, connected in the manner shown in Fig. 12 to a plow ring such asshown in Fig. 16. Here a slip joint member provided with a threadedconnection to the plow ring, shown, the slip joint member having adepending sheet metal fiange 82 into which the upper end of the pipe 8!?telescopes up into contact with a core as at 32.

invention may be utilized in connection with various types of coresother than those here illustrated, for example well known types of coreswhich are ezrpansible to frictionally engage the shell walls, or oftypes such as disclosed in U. S. patent to Upson et al. No. 2,099,285.If such expansible types of cores are used, they may be pulled straightup into the shells without rotation. If cores such as of said Upson etal. patent are used, they are rotated either by hand or more or lessautomatically (as described in that patent) as they are pulled out ofthe shells, so that the lugs on the core will clear the lugs on the pilerings of the shell. Similarly preparatory to driving with cores such asof said Upson et a1. patent, the shell is rotated by hand so as toengage the lugs on the shell with the lugs on the core.

With this invention for a typical case requiring an -foot pile, forexample, a unitary shell or connected shell 80 feet in length wouldrequire a core also 80 feet in length, and about 15 feet of headroomwould be required for the hammer, and another 8 or 10 feet for themessenger plug. Thus no more than about a total of feet of headroom isrequired in using this invention, as contrasted with feet with the priorpractice.

Although certain particular embodiments of the invention are hereindisclosed for purposes of explanation, various further modificationsthereof, after study of this specification, will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Reference shouldaccordingly be had to the appended claims in determining the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed and desired Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for shelling up pile shells to be secured by with adriving core and for driving such shells, the combination comprising: apile driver having a pair of leads; a driving hammer assembly slidablymounted on said leads; a sheave frame beneath said. assembly andsuspended therefrom; a messenger plug having sheave means thereon andadapted to be suspended at varying elevations within said frame andtherebclow along the vertical center line of the hammer, said plug alsohaving means thereon for detachable connection with a pile shell drivingcore; and a plurality of sheaves on said frame at each side of saidcenter line for directing cable means downwardly along the hammerassembly, thence from one side of said frame to the other side and backup along the hammer assembly, the messenger plug being suspendable atsaid varying elevations by such cable means coming into engagement withthe sheave means on the plug, and whereby the plug may be loweredthrough a pile shell suspended thereunder, for connection with a core,and then raised to pull the core up into the shell.

2. In apparatus of the class described, frame means adapted to besuspended beneath the A hammer and between the leads of a pile driver,vertically spaced sheaves carried by said frame means at each side ofthe position of the vertical center line of the hammer, a messenger plugmovable vertically along such line within said frame and therebelow andadapted to receive hammer impacts at its upper end and formed with meansat its lower end for detachable connection to a driving core for liftingsuch a core up into a pile shell when suspended beneath said frame, aplural part cable adapted to be engaged by the outer peripheral portionsof the upper sheaves on said frame and to then pass downwardly and overthe inner peripheral portions of the lower sheaves on the frame, saidplug when lowered being suspended by generally parallel parts of thecable depending from said lower sheaves.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the cornbination comprising apile driving hammer, a follower therefor having a socket on itsunderside, a messenger plug beneath said follower, the upper end of saidplug being adapted to be received in said socket to thereby receivehammer impacts, the lower end of said plug being formed for detachableconnection with a driving core, and means adjacent said follower forguiding a cable to suspend said plug and to lower and raise same througha pile shell when such a shell is in upright position below thefollower.

i. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising apile driving hammer assembly, a messenger plug below such assembly andadapted at its upper end to receive hammer impacts, the lower end ofsaid plug being formed for detachable connection with a driving core,sheave means on said plug, and cable guiding means for guiding a cableto suspend said plug by said sheave means and to lower and raise theplug through a pile shell when such a shell is in upright position belowsaid assembly.

5. In the driving of long pile shells within limited headroom by the useof a pile driver having hoisting means, leads, a hammer assembly, and amessenger plug capable of being raised and lowered through a pile shellpositioned along such leads by a cable passing over sheaves mountedadjacent the hammer, the combination of method steps which comprises:placing a tube or the like in upright position with a substantial partbelow the ground level and with a pile shell driving core therein;utilizing thehoisting means to suspend a pile shell along the leadsbelow the hammer assembly and above the upper end of such core; loweringthe messenger plug through the shell and connecting such plug to thecore; raising the plug to pull the core into shelled up position; movingthe pile driver with the assembled shell and core thereon to the desiredplace for driving the shell; then driving the shell by impacts impartedby the hammer assembly through such plug to the core and thence to theshell; and then disconnecting the plug and core, the core in the thusdriven shell being positioned to again be shelled up in like manner withthe next shell to be driven.

6. In the driving of long pile shells by the use of a driving coretherein, within limited headroom available for shelling up the core withthe shells, the combination of method steps which comprises: startingwith the core generally upright and largely below the ground level in apreviously driven pile shell; suspending a shell above such coregenerally in alignment therewith; lowering a suspended core pullingmeans through such shell and connecting such means to the core; raisingsuch means to pull the core into shelled up position; moving thesuspended shell and core therein to the desired position for driving theshell; then driving the shell by impacts applied to the upper end of thecore, the core in the thus driven shell being positioned to again beshelled up in like manner with the next shell to be driven.

7. In the driving of long pile shells by the use of a driving coretherein, within limited headroom available for shelling up the core withthe shells, the combination of method steps which comprises: startingwith the core generally upright and largely below the ground level in apreviously driven pile shell; suspending an upper separable portion of apile shell above such core generally in alignment therewith; lowering asuspended core pulling means through such suspended shell portion andconnecting such means to the core; raising such means to pull the coreup into said suspended shell portion; lowering a lower shell portioninto a previously driven pile shell; bringing said upper shell portionwith the core therein into alignment with said lower shell portion andthen bringing said shell portions together and connecting same inshelled up position about the core; and moving the shelled up assemblyto the desired location for driving.

8. In the driving of long pile shells having a separable tapered lowerportion, by the use of a driving core, within limited headroom availablefor shelling up the core with the shells, the combination of methodsteps which comprises: starting with the core generally upright andlargely below the ground level in a previously driven pile shell;suspending a pile shell above such core generally in alignmenttherewith; lowering a suspended core pulling means through suchsuspended shell and connecting such means to the core; raising suchmeans to pull the core up into said suspended shell; lowering thetapered lower shell portion into a previously driven pile shell;bringing said suspended shell with the core therein into alignment withsaid lower shell portion and then bringing said suspended shell and saidlower portion together and connecting same in shelled up position aboutthe core; and moving the shelled up assembly to the desired location fordriving.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a piledriving hammer assembly, a messenger plug, the upper end of which isadapted to receive hammer impacts, and the lower end of which is formedwith means for detachably connecting same to the upper end of a pileshell driving core, cable sheave means mounted in said plug intermediateits upper and lower ends, additional cable sheave means mounted adjacentthe lower portion of the hammer assembly and adapted to guide cableparts from one side of the hammer center line into engagement with thesheave means on the messenger plug and thence to the other side of saidcenter line as the messenger plug is being raised or lowered by thecable, said messenger plug being formed with a cut out portion beneaththe sheave means thereon, permitting the cable to pass from one side ofsaid center line to the other at a point spaced below the sheave meanson the plug when the plug is applied to a core and thereby held up inimpact-receiving position, and whereby transmission of hammer impacts tothe cable is substantially avoided.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a pile driving hammer assembly, a messenger plug adaptedfor raising a shell driving core up into a suspended pile shell, theupper end of said plug being adapted to receive hammer impacts, and thelower end thereof being U formed with means for detachably connectingsame to the upper end of such a core, cable sheave means mounted in saidplug intermediate its upper and lower ends, and additional cable sheavemeans mounted adjacent the lower portion of the hammer assembly andadapted to guide cable parts from one side of the hammer center lineinto engagement with the sheave means on the messenger plug and thenceto the other side of 12 said center line as the messenger plug is beingraised or lowered in a pile shell by the cable.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising: apile driving hammer assembly; a sheave frame means; hammer extensionsextending down from said hammer assembly and resilient means cooperatingtherewith for resiliently supporting said frame; and sheave means onsaid frame for guiding a cable for raising a pile driving core up into apile shell when suspended beneath such frame.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising: apile driving hammer assembly; a sheave frame means; hammer extensionsextending down from said hammer assembly slidably along the hammer leadsfor supporting said frame; and sheave means on said frame for guiding acable for raising a pile driving core up into a pile shell whensuspended beneath such frame.

13. In the driving of long pile shells which are to be closed at theirlower ends by boots, by the use of a pile driving rig having limitedheadroom, the combination of method steps which comprises: placing apile shell driving core in a previously driven pile shell or the like;suspending the pile shell to be driven in upright position above theupper end of such core; suspending core pulling means through the lattershell and connecting such means to the core; raising such means to pullthe core up into the latter shell; applying a boot to the lower end ofthe latter shell and moving such shell with the core therein to thedesired position for driving; and then driving the shell by impactsapplied through the medium of the core.

EDWARD A. SMITH.

No references cited.

